O King of the nations,

You are the headstone of the glorious hall of creation.

You are the firm mortar which holds the building together.

Throughout the earth people marvel at your works.

But now the building is being reduced to a ruin by greed and fear:

 

Reveal yourself to mankind, 

    show yourself as the ruler of the world,

    demonstrate the power of your love.

 

O just and faithful King,

    you can unlock the prison-house of sin,

    and let us out into the glorious freedom of love.

Now we sit in darkness,

    grieving over the wrongs we have committed.

We long for the sun,

    we yearn for the warmth and brightness of your truth.

Open the gate of this prison, and lead us to your kingdom,

    which is our true home.

 

Come now, high king of heaven.  
Come to us in flesh and bone.  
Bring life to us who are weary with misery.  
Bring peace to us who are overcome with weeping,
    whose cheeks are covered with bitter salt tears.  
Seek us out, who are lost in the darkness of depression.  
Do not forget us, but show mercy to us.  
Impart to us your everlasting joy,
    so that we, who are fashioned by your hands,
    may praise your glory.

 

Exeter Book, c.960,  codex of Old English poetry

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Isaiah 61:1-3

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.

 

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Where is God’s life and peace most needed in your community?
Pray that the power of Christ’s love would be revealed in this situation.